Graphene Week 2025 Celebrates 20 Years of Pioneering Innovation in 2D Materials

Graphene Week 2025 brought together a vibrant and diverse community of researchers, innovators and industry leaders to explore the frontiers of graphene and 2D materials. Hosted by the Graphene Flagship projects GIANCE, 2D Printable and GrapheneEU, the event served as a foundation for scientific exchange, technological advancement and the European graphene and 2D community impact.

The conference welcomed 400 participants from 41 countries, with nearly 80% coming from Europe—highlighting the region’s leading role in advancing graphene research and innovation. Delegates from 24 European nations actively contributed to the scientific dialogue, while a 33% female participation rate underscored the event’s commitment to gender equity and inclusivity in science.

Chairs & scientific leadership
The conference was chaired by distinguished graphene researchers Aldo Di Carlo, University of Rome Tor Vergata, and Camilla Coletti, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia. Backed by an International Scientific Programme Committee and dedicated organisers, the Chairs helped to guide discussions around current challenges, emerging applications and strategic directions in the field. They assembled a notable lineup of keynote and invited speakers covering the full-spectrum of 2D materials focus areas.

ISOF-CNR director Vincenzo Palermo and Francesco Bonaccorso, Scientific Director for the Italian graphene producer BeDimensional served as the conference’s Innovation and Industry Ambassadors, helping to organise the conference’s Innovation Forum attracting key industry speakers. The Innovation Forum spotlights the transition from lab to market: commercialisation, industry challenges and networking sessions designed to accelerate real-world impact.

The programme offered a well-balanced mix of scientific and innovation-focused sessions, enabling participants to align emerging challenges with new opportunities. More than 200 presentations—including plenary lectures, parallel tracks, fringe sessions and workshops—alongside 150 poster contributions, provided a dynamic platform for exchange. Parallel sessions led by 2D BioPAD, MUNASET, GIANCE, and Next-2Digits focused on biomedical applications, health, composites, electronics, photonics and optoelectronics. Workshops organised by 2DSpin-Tech, GIANCE, Graphergia, Safari, GATEPOST, 2D NeuralVision and the 2D-PL enriched the programme with discussions on topics central to the Graphene Flagship projects.

Dedicated sessions such as the Open Forum, the European Commission panel and the Associated Members meeting—titled “Partnering for Impact”—highlighted synergies across Graphene Flagship activities and the broader 2D materials ecosystem. 

A special programme for early-career researchers offered student grants, poster awards, mentorship, training and networking opportunities designed to support the next generation of scientific leaders. Four poster awards were given for excellent science and presentation. We congratulate Teissir Ben Ammar from Blackleaf, Illkirch-Graffenstaden in France, Jingjing (Mansun) Wang from the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in the UK, Dmitriy Poteryayev from Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in Italy, and Alessandro Calza from the University of Bologna in Italy for their winning poster presentations.

The Innovation Forum served as a bridge between startups, industry stakeholders and academic pioneers, facilitating the exchange of ideas and showcasing commercially promising breakthroughs. The exhibition featured 24 exhibitors, including 10 organisations and all 14 Graphene Flagship projects, with a spotlight on the 2D Pilot Line value chain.

Set in Vicenza, Italy—a city surrounded by UNESCO World Heritage sites—the event added cultural and economic value to both the graphene community and the local region. Sustainability and inclusivity were central to the event’s design, with eco-conscious practices and community engagement integrated throughout its planning and execution.

With its world-class scientific programme, international reach, and commitment to responsible innovation, Graphene Week 2025 reaffirmed its status as a premier event in advanced materials. It continues to serve as a vital platform for collaboration among projects aligned with strategic European science and technology initiatives, reinforcing Europe’s position at the forefront of graphene and 2D materials research.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back to Graphene Week 2026 to be held 21-25 September in Porto, Portugal.